Friday, May 02, 2014

With plumage perfectly adapted to effectively disappear in reeds and tall grass, the American Bittern is nearly impossible to find in their preferred habitat - wetlands. When alarmed they will point their bills skyward and slowly wave back and forth, imitating the vegetation in which they hide. They feed on amphibians, crustaceans, fish, insects (mainly dragonflies), reptiles and small mammals. Due to widespread wetland loss and degradation in New York State, their numbers have declined and they are listed as a species of "Special Concern".